Could Tony Romo’s $72M CBS deal be in jeopardy? Analyst makes ominous 95% prediction after former NFL star’s arrest

Tony Romo’s future with CBS looks increasingly uncertain after his July arrest in Wisconsin. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback remains on leave, while J.J. Watt has stepped into his spot alongside Jim Nantz on the network’s lead NFL crew.Now, sports media insider John Ourand has offered a grim prediction. He believes Romo has only a slim chance of returning, even though CBS has not officially made a final decision on his future. John Ourand puts Tony Romo’s CBS return at just 5 percentOurand gave his assessment during an appearance on Puck’s “The Powers That Be Daily” podcast. He believes there is a 95 percent chance Romo will not return to CBS.“I think it’s highly unlikely,” Ourand said on the podcast. “And by highly unlikely, I think it’s like 95 percent that he’s not back at CBS.”The prediction comes after CBS placed Romo on leave following his July arrest in Wisconsin. The network then turned to J.J. Watt, who joined Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for its top NFL broadcast team.That move gives CBS a ready-made alternative while the network weighs Romo’s future. More importantly, CBS has made it clear that the issue goes beyond what happens in court.CBS Sports president David Berson said in August that there was “no timetable or final decision” regarding Romo. He also said the network had to consider the “impact on our image and on our brand.”That comment matters because the arrest footage has continued to draw attention, creating another concern for CBS if Romo returns to its biggest NFL broadcasts.Ourand also pointed to the 44-minute body-camera video as a potential problem. He said on the September 4 podcast that whenever Romo says or does something unusual in the booth, the footage could bring fresh jokes and memes about whether he had been drinking. Tony Romo’s $180 million CBS deal could make the exit complicatedRomo’s contract adds another layer to the situation. He signed a 10-year, $180 million deal with CBS in 2020, meaning roughly four years and $72 million remain.Ourand believes CBS could see an opportunity to save money, but he expects negotiations if the network decides to part ways with Romo.“The question is: What is the number that would make Tony Romo sort of walk away without a fight?” Ourand said on the podcast.Romo, meanwhile, has made his own position clear. In an Instagram statement on September 1, he accepted responsibility for his actions, discussed his struggles with pain medication and alcohol, and said he hopes to return to CBS.So, while CBS has not closed the door publicly, Watt now gives the network another option. Unless that experiment falls apart, Ourand sees Romo’s return as highly unlikely.Still, the financial side cannot disappear from the conversation. With roughly $72 million reportedly remaining on Romo’s CBS deal, any decision to move on could lead to serious negotiations between the two sides. For CBS, the question is no longer just whether Romo returns, but how much it may cost if he does not.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.